Item 8: Draft Recomendation — original pdf

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BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Aging Recommendation Number: 20260909-008: Health Literacy Month – October WHEREAS, health literacy includes the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to make health-related decisions, and clear and accessible health information is essential to navigating health care and maintaining individual and community health; and WHEREAS, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has identified a National Action Plan to improve health literacy 1, underscoring the importance of this issue, and WHEREAS, October has been recognized as Health Literacy Month since 1999 to increase awareness of the importance of making health information easier to understand and health systems easier to navigate 2; and WHEREAS, the 2025 Austin Women and Girls Quality of Life Study recommends: “Provide language accessible materials of resources to all Austin residents by translating all materials available through the City of Austin in multiple languages and tailored to varying literacy levels” 3; and WHEREAS, the 2025 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study reports that “41% of older adults rate their internet as fair or poor” and identifies “digital literacy programs” among needed interventions 4; and WHEREAS, the Austin LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study states that “there is a great need to access high- quality, affordable, culturally responsive, comprehensive health care for LGBTQIA+ individuals” 5. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Aging encourages the Austin City Council to proclaim October 2026 as "Health Literacy Month" in Austin and encourages City departments, healthcare providers, community organizations, and residents to promote clear, accessible, culturally responsive, and understandable health information for people of all ages and abilities. 1 U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy 2 Health Literacy Solutions Center 3 Commission for Women-Final Report, November 2025, Findings: Public Services, Digital Divide in Internet Access, p. 82. 4 Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study 2025, Findings: Public Services, Digital Divide in Internet Access, p. 117. 5 ShoutOut Austin LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study (2021), Key Themes, p. 7. Date of Approval: _______________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________